Tile.



PATENTED AUG. l1, 1908.

K. MGLBOD.

TILE. AFPLIGATION FILED AUG. 29, 1906.

attenant KENNETH MCLEGD, `OF BROOKVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. l1, 1908.

Application led August 29, 1906. Serial No. 332,510.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KENNETH MoLEoD, a

` citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Brookville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tiles, being especially directedto an anchoring member or attachment designed for use in connection with the tile, and has for its objects to provide a simple, inexpensive device of this character which may be readily applied for use, one whereby the tile will be firmly and securely locked or anchored'in place, and one which will effectually hold the tile in place and prevent its falling'in the event of the cement or like binding material failing to properly adhere to the back of the tile.

Nv'ith these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

'In the accompanying drawings: Figure I is a perspective view of a tile equipped with j an anchoring member and showing one form of embodiment of the invention. F ig. 2 is a central, longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the anchoring member.

Referring to thev drawings, l designates a tile of usual form and material having formed in its reverse face or b'ack and in appropriately spaced relation a plurality of sockets or seats 2 shown as being of circular form and having undercut or dove-tailed marginal walls 3 adapted for engagement with the base portion 4 of a locking or anchoring member 5 which is formed from a single piece or length of metal and in addition to the base portion embodies' a diagonally inclined outwardly projecting portion or arm 6 terminating at its outer end in an engaging portion or finger 7 disposed in a plane parallel with the adjacent face of the tile, it being understood in this connection that the base portion 4, which is of spring metal, is adapted for compression tobe introduced into the seat 2 and when roperly seated expands for secure interloc ng engagement with the undercut walls of the seat.

In practice, thetiles are laid in the usual manner by coating the reverse face or back with plaster of paris or other cement and while the cement is in a plastic condition pressing the tiles against the surface on' which they are to be laid, it being evident that after the cement-has set or hardened the anchoring memb ers will be firmly and securely kembedded therein, thus to anchor the tiles in place, and furthermore, that in the event of the cement shrinking away from or otherwise failing to adhere properly to the face of the tile, the latter will be retained in place and prevented from falling through the medium of the anchoring member or members. Furthermore, it is apparent that during the operation of coating the face of the tile with the cement the sockets or seats may be filled with the latter, thus to securely 'fix the anchoring members to the tile.

In conclusion, it may be mentioned that heretofore it has been the practice to form tiles with a plurality of sockets or recesses 2 similar to those shown herein, these sockets being intended to become filled with the plastic cement in the operation of laying the tiles for the purpose of fiXedly securing the latter in place. It has been found, however, in practice that atmospheric pressure within the sockets prevents the cement from entering thereinto and that consequently the purpose for which the sockets are provided is wholly defeated and that the tiles consequentlyfall in the event of the cement shrinking away from or failing to adhere to the rear face of the tile. Through my improved device these objections and difficulties are wholly overcome and provision is made for properly and securely anchoring the tiles on the surface to which they are applied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In combination with a tile having a socket in its reverse face surrounded by an undercut wall, an anchoring device having a laterally expansible spring base sprung into said socket and engaging said undercut wall, and a portion projecting from said base and the reverse face of the tile to be embedded in the mortar in which the tile is laid.

2. In combination with a tile having a socket in its reverse face surrounded by an undercut wall, an anchoring device having a laterally expansible spring base sprung into said socket and engaging said wall, and a key portion projecting from said base and the reverse face of the tile and terminating in an arm parallel with such face of the tile to be embedded in the mortar in which the tile is laid.

I 3. In combination with a tile having a l reverse face of the tile, and an arm at the socket in its reverse face surrounded by an outer end ofsaid key portion extending subundercut Wall, an'anclioring device made of a stantially parallel with the reverse face of the single piece of spring Wire and comprising a tile.

5 substantially circular base open at one side In testimony whereof, I aflx my signature 15 for free lateral expansion and contraction in presence of two Witnesses. and sprung into said socket and engaging KENNETH MCLEOD. said Wall7 a key portonprojecting -froin one /Vtnesses: v side of such base through the mouth of the JOHN L. FLETCHER,

10' socket and at an oblique angle beyond the F. S. ELMORE. 

